Go local for host and hostess gifts

I have a theory. Yes, Christmas is the time of giving, loving and sharing. But it’s also a time for treating yourself – and I don’t just mean from the cookie tray.

It’s hard, whilst shopping for others, to not notice all the lovely things that you want for yourself. Really, you have to be a saint to do all your Christmas shopping and not pick up a prezzy or two for yourself. I often do this under the guise of purchasing a potential “hostess gift.”

Hostess (or Host) gifts are those items brought with you to the various in-home soirees you attend. They say a polite “thank you” or “Merry Christmas” without costing a lot of money. They are fun to buy, fun to give, and (far too often in my case) fun to keep for yourself.

The only thing better than a creative host/hostess gift is one that has been purchased or even made locally. This adds a dimension of meaning to the item, as it is probably uniquely produced in small batches, has that certain je ne sais quoi of being from the local area, and, importantly, you are supporting local businesses, artists and economic growth.

Gillian Wesley has taken it upon herself to be a one-woman –whirlwind when it comes to local gifting. She has created the “Local Wish List” to make it easier to showcase all the great gift ideas available from small local businesses and local producers.

“We tried to do all of our shopping locally last year and had a difficult time finding out what was available without a lot of legwork,” explains Wesley.

“Shopping locally can feel overwhelming for many people, and this time of the year is already very busy. By placing a number of local gift ideas in one place, we thought it might make it easier and thus more likely that shoppers would spend their money locally.”

The Local Wish List can be found by visiting thelocaltravelerns.com and items from local businesses can be added by sending suggestions to localtravelerns@gmail.com. Keep up to date by following the list on twitter @GillianWesleyNS.

It is important to Wesley that her project is very “shareable” – so multiple people could access it and easily share ideas.

“The list is integrated with Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and our blog platform so that shoppers can easily view and share gift ideas with a number of online tools,” says Wesley.

“The Local Wish List has been successful beyond what we could have hoped. It has had more than 5,000 views, hundreds of shares, 'likes' and 're-pins', created conversations online about local products, helped local producers find new retail opportunities (one as far as Toronto) and created sales.”

When asked about interesting, economical “host/hostess” gift ideas, Wesley easily provided me with her top picks. A visit to the site, however, makes it difficult to believe she could choose – there are so many fun, unique items and services available from our own local businesses and artisans.

The following are some of Wesley’s top suggestions:

Pearl and Daisy Candy Cane Gift Set: $29

These locally made, 100 per cent natural products sell for $29 and make a really nice friend or co-worker gift.

Run Free Run Wild - Antiqued Gold Starfish Stud Earrings: $20.90

“I gave Sea Urchin necklaces as bridesmaid’s gifts in my June wedding and everyone loved them,” says Wesley. “These are next on my list from her awesome collection.”

Estia Dipping Oil $18:

Yes, this amazingly tasty oil served at Spring Garden Road’s Estia Restaurant is available for take-home. They also offer a gift pack that has a bottle of oil and a $15 gift card for $30.

Best Recipes from the Maritime Provinces: $29.95

“We couldn't wait for the holidays to break into this book,” says Wesley. “We'll be using recipes from it for a few holiday parties. There are more than 400 recipes from across the Maritimes.”

Made By Gretchen - Custom ‘Scrabble’ Mug: $15

A big hit on social media, this gift can be customized and even delivered anywhere on the Halifax peninsula.

Sea Level Brewing Beer: $15

This is a small craft brewery just introduced cans. “I used to drive to Port Williams just to pick up this treat, so I'm hoping for some in my stocking and fridge,” says Wesley.

Organic Pedicure from Soothe Your Sole

The newest spa on the HRM scene (it just opened last week) has a special of $30 pedicures all December – and booking online means no tax!

If you’re still in the mood for more gift ideas, a great place to find yourself is at the Seaport Farmer’s Market. The soy candles from Nytewicks, leather pouches from Kudows Signs and Gifts, Olive Oil from Tuscan Olive Oil Company Ltd, tea from the Tea Brewery or a beautiful wooden bowl for Iron Wood Bowls are sure to wow any giftee on your list.

Shopping for gifts, even for yourself, should not be seen as a chore. Enjoy the smells, sites (and, if there are samples) the tastes of our local offerings. Visit the Local Wish List yourself to see what delights are right around the corner.